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Humble Beginnings to Legendary Status A lot of the automotive icons we appreciate today started out as humble models part of a big lineup. Ford's Escort was primarily developed and built as a standard family car, replacing the aging Anglia model. Introduced in the late '60s, the Escort Mk1 quickly became something more than a dependable day-to-day car. Its status comes from a very successful stint as a rally car. It was lauded for being simple but strong, along with Rear Wheel Drive and a modern

Mazda’s EV Moment Came and Went Mazda tried to break into the U.S. EV market with the MX-30, but the model’s reception appeared underwhelming, especially after it was discontinued following the 2023 model year, with the European-spec version later meeting the same fate. That outcome reinforced the brand’s shift toward plug-in hybrids such as the CX-70 and CX-90 amid tightening emissions regulations. With the broader U.S. market now favoring hybrids, Mazda’s EV potential never really had the chan

Mercedes-Benz unveiled the extensively updated 2027 S-Class sedan almost two months ago, and now it’s the turn of the even more luxurious Maybach S-Class. One of the only true Bentley and Rolls-Royce rivals in the world, the Maybach sedan has received many of the same updates as seen on the regular S-Class—along with a few exclusive changes unique to this posh sedan. Mercedes says this is the most extensive update in the history of the Maybach S-Class, which benefits from new materials, enhanced

When Two Become One The modding scene is quickly becoming more capable than ever. We're seeing owners achieve their wildest dreams thanks to technology. A rare, sometimes looked-down-upon part of modding is when some cavalier owners merge two models into one car. Builds like these don't usually end well, considering how hard it is to put two different cars together. However, there are moments of brilliance, and one madman has succeeded in blending two cars, and even better, it can be owned by on

Important Changes for Strong Sellers The Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain might not pull in the same sales numbers as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, but these remain vital models in the General Motors portfolio. As such, it's important that the two models remain fresh in ever-stiffening competition and one of the world's toughest segments. While we're just a few months into 2026, there are apparently some changes being prepared for the 2027 model-year versions of the GM compact crossovers. For

The Tesla Cybercab robotaxi is unlike any vehicle the American EV manufacturer has built before, and it’s only natural that it attracts a lot of attention wherever people see it. Unsurprisingly, this happened last week in Austin, Texas, where Tesla brought a shiny gold Cybercab prototype at SXSW 2026, providing a good opportunity for a few car influencers to take a closer look at the intriguing fully autonomous vehicle designed for ride-sharing. "Look Ma, No Hands!" Out of Spec Reviews and Kim J

Cost No Object The GTD is easily the most expensive factory Ford Mustang in history. It might take a while before that record is beaten, and at over $300,000, we're not holding our breath. That said, it's an entirely different animal compared to the garden-variety GT, and it's a few rungs higher than the already potent Dark Horse. Despite the price tag, Ford has shifted a good amount of Mustang GTDs. From a previous report, the Blue Oval managed to shift 231 examples of what's essentially a stre

Coming Soon: The First Neue Klasse M The i3 is now out in the open, but we all know that the M version is all but inevitable. Besides, we've seen spy shots of the car, and BMW isn't denying that it'll happen. It will be interesting times over at the M division as it prepares to roll out its first-ever EV performance car. With that, we could expect the M3 EV, or iM3, should BMW choose that name, to make its world premiere within the year. Alleged leaked photos from Bimmer Post show that the car i

Mercedes-AMG cars have always commanded respect among rivals and high-performance car enthusiasts, but whenever the words 'Black Series' are mentioned, fear also comes into the equation. AMG's Black Series models have always taken things a step further, blurring the lines between road and race cars, and that is going to be the case with the upcoming Black Series model as well—more than ever, actually. The Next AMG GT Black Series and AMG GT3 Will Almost Be Twins

The Fireball tools go-kart belt sander is something special, that’s for sure, and with 5 horsepower you’d think that it could hog away any material needed. And it does. But more power is always good, right? In the video below, Jason walks us through testing, upgrading, and testing some more as he sees just how good this big beast of a belt sander really is. I know it would do anything and everything I ever cared about, that’s for sure! Check it out and let us know what you think. Video Descri

We’ve all owned a set of valve covers or a timing cover or some other automotive part that has raised letters on them. And sometimes they have a different color of paint on those raised letters. The cheaper stuff is usually all just one color though and that’s because it takes effort to create a clean raised letter in a different color than the background. And over the years, I’ve heard of a few different ways to create this effect, but even the easiest ones are going to require a couple of step

After a few years when Subaru’s only EV was the slightly underwhelming Solterra, the Japanese marque has stepped up its game with several new fully electric models. The Solterra itself was substantially updated for 2026, before the smaller Uncharted and larger Trailseeker were unveiled. Now, Subaru is planning to launch a fourth electric SUV in the U.S., and it’s easily the most powerful one so far. The new vehicle was teased this week ahead of a planned unveiling in April. Subaru’s Most Powerfu

We shared Funny Car action from the IHRA Season Opener at Darana Motorsports Park, formerly GALOT, yesterday and loved the IHRA Nitro action. Fuel Altereds are part of the Nitro show as well, along with Top Fuel, so if you are a Nitro fan you’ll love it. Only the IHRA has three Nitro classes in competition, which means one hell of a show for fans online and in person alike. Video Description: IHRA Fuel Altered qualifying roars to life at Darana Motorsports Park! Friday night thunder from the I

BMW Says No to Long-Wheelbase Cars in America BMW is drawing a clear line in the sand when it comes to long-wheelbase (LWB) vehicles: they’re not coming to the United States. According to an interview with BMW Blog, the decision is rooted in hard data, not brand philosophy or engineering limitations. Internal research shows that American buyers simply aren’t interested in stretched-wheelbase sedans or SUVs, even as those same models thrive in other parts of the world. BMW product chief Bernd Kör

Since the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLA debuted with an updated design language a year ago, several new Mercs have been spied testing with revised styling, including the CLE coupe and CLE convertible, the GLC crossover, and the C-Class sedan. At the top of the hierarchy, Mercedes' most extravagant models will also be refreshed, and our spies have caught the 2027 AMG and Maybach versions of the SL-Class undergoing cold-weather testing with updated cosmetics. Along with a new front end for each, the M

Kia has released pricing for its smallest and most affordable EV in Europe, the EV2, and it looks like a pretty good deal for buyers who are in the market for an urban electric car. In Germany, the first market where the EV2 has gone on sale, the subcompact EV starts at €26,600, which is the equivalent of around $30,800 at the current exchange rate. That’s a good price considering the expected target was €30,000. That said, the upcoming Volkswagen ID. Polo, which is a direct competitor, is expec

Not Your Typical Four-Cylinder While Mercedes-Benz, like most automakers, is now shifting toward downsized, electrified powertrains, the German marque introduced the 2.1-liter turbodiesel OM651 diesel engine almost two decades ago – an engine often described as “overbuilt.” The diesel engine has received mixed reviews when it comes to reliability, with some critics pointing to issues such as timing chain wear and oil leaks, particularly in higher-mileage examples. The OM651 had a relatively limi

Automakers have made some big improvements in EV range over the last several years, even while dropping prices, with a number of $30,000 models coming to market in the next few years. But there’s another big hurdle the industry needs to overcome before many potential buyers will be ready to plug in. Kia And that’s where a start-up called Ionna hopes to shake things up. Based in Du

Winter is not done with New England. A potent late-season system is pushing a wintry mix of rain, sleet, and snow across the region today, delivering hazardous driving conditions along some of the Northeast's most heavily traveled highway corridors. The National Weather Service Boston/Norton office flagged two distinct hazard windows for Monday: a morning round of sleet and wet snow mixing in along and north of I-90, followed by a second round of scattered snow squalls expected through midnight.

Unsung Heroes A lot of people are involved in the building of a race car; there are countless components and parts that need to be developed, tested, and built. Some race teams can handle these tasks in-house, but most outsource major components to more experienced suppliers. When it comes to building something as vital as the chassis of a race car, nobody takes it more seriously than Dallara. Those in the know about racing will be familiar with Dallara, but if you aren't, simply put, Dallara ma

The perfect two-car garage typically combines a versatile daily driver with a more performance-oriented car for weekends. These two cars ordinarily have little in common, as they serve entirely different purposes. However, one enthusiast who owns a BMW M3 Touring and a Porsche 911 (997.2) Targa 4S took things a step further by commissioning his BMW to perfectly match the Porsche’s spec. The result is one of the most spectacular and unexpected two-car pairings we’ve come across. Two Fast Germans

Mazda is facing fresh legal pressure in the United States, as a class action lawsuit filed in Virginia targets its flagship three-row SUV, the CX-90. The case, brought by plaintiff James R. Burnell, alleges persistent brake noise and erratic Lane-Keep Assist behavior, with claims that the same issues could affect 2024 to 2026 model-year CX-90 SUVs. And this isn't the first time Mazda has faced scrutiny over its CX-90's brakes, either. Persistent Brake Squeal Points to Deeper Fault

A Bug That Refuses To Fade While Volkswagen is now known for crossovers like the Tiguan and Atlas – two of its best-selling models in the U.S. last year – the brand was once defined by a small, quirky vehicle that many people recognize: the Beetle. The Beetle is one of the best-selling cars of all time, alongside the Ford Model T and Toyota Corolla, so it’s no surprise that it still holds relevance even after production ended in 2019. One of the more than 21 million units sold was this 1978 mod

The CLA's More Practical Sibling The Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake was a bit of a surprise product when it was first unveiled in 2015. While it's unfortunate that it wasn't sold in the U.S., it still proved successful enough to merit successive generations. It's even available in AMG form for a bit more pep for the daily drive. Now that the third-generation CLA is out, it was inevitable that Mercedes-Benz continued the Shooting Brake body style for its smallest offering. That one was already

For the most part, GMC products are slightly fancier versions of Chevrolet vehicles, sharing the same tech and powertrains, but for 2027, could that be about to change? According to Car and Driver, General Motors submitted new Vehicle Identification Number Standards documents to the federal government, and these included mention of four engine options for the Yukon for the 2027 model year, up from the three offered in Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban SUVs. As before, GM's L84 5.3-liter V8, L87 6.2-l